Storm Drains

The next set of questions examined the respondent’s knowledge of materials that are acceptable to be placed in storm drains (Table 62).  Rainwater is the only acceptable material that can enter storm drains.  The items the respondents deemed most acceptable for the storm drains were rainwater from a home’s gutters (70.1%), water from draining a swimming pool (11.6%), and grass clippings, leaves, and other natural vegetation (10.5%).  Again, since only rainwater from a home’s gutters would be correct, there is some degree of inaccuracy in the respondent’s somewhat higher percentages for water from draining a swimming pool and grass clippings, leaves and natural vegetation.  This year there has been a degree of improvement for rainwater from a home’s gutters (increased from 68.6% to 70.1%) and especially for water from a swimming pool (decreased from 17.6% to 11.6%).  However, there was slightly more inaccuracy for grass clippings, leaves, and other natural vegetation (increased from 8.2% to 10.5%).  Grease and oil (0.5%) and paint (0.3%) remain accurately perceived as unacceptable materials.  Tables 63, 64, and 65 show the results from 2004, 2006, and 2008.  Overall, public knowledge of what is acceptable to go into storm drains improved again this year.  The only area of concern is the continuing somewhat high percentages for water from draining a swimming pool (11.6%) and grass clippings, leaves, and other natural vegetation (10.5%).

Storm Drains Crosstabulations

The crosstabulations for acceptable materials to put in storm drains were conducted for age, housing type, income, and years in Cary (Tables B392-B395).  The least accurate for grass, leaves, and natural vegetation was $30,001-$50,000 income level (18.6%) and 18-25 age group (17.2%).  The 18-25 age group (31.0%), $50,001-$70,000 income level (21.4%), and townhouse/condo dwellers (15.8%) were the least accurate for water from a swimming pool.  However, the accuracy for grease, oil, and paints were very good for all the subgroups.